Hydractive ECU

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 16:27

Well, I opened up the ECU today to be confronted by this:

Well and truly gone, now it looks like this:

All is back together, sealed up hopfully well enough. Bit messy as the sealant tube split on me but got there. Soldering isn't the best either but its the first time I've done it for years, all contacts are good though methinks

Now, I quickly took it out to the car and plugged it back in. On opening a door I hear no activity. Have I done something wrong? Killed it? Or does it likely just need a Lexia to clear the code stored?

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:02

That had gone in fine style Toby...

Did you replace the fuse? F8 (20A) in the engine bay fuse box..

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:05

CitroJim wrote:That had gone in fine style Toby...

Did you replace the fuse? F8 (20A) in the engine bay fuse box..

No,

Will go and try again!

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:16

Thats got it.

Buzzing like a good 'un and clicking positively.

How silly of me! Thanks Jim

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:18

Wow!

Excellent

Great work Toby and good, neat soldering there! Well done!

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:20

Thanks, thats a buzz (no pun intended!) for me.

It works!

Think I'll try to tidy up the ECU casing though, try and get a bit more silicone round the connectors.

I was going to leave it indoors tonight to cure properly. Is this a good idea? Or should I put it back on and go for a run?

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Feb 2010, 17:45

Go for a run Toby!

Go on....

See and feel the difference.

A Lexia session would be beneficial in due course to make sure all faults are clear and to get the best possible performance out of the ECU.

I'd not be too fussed about curing and so on, the ECU box is not a wet place, generally, provided the lid is on and properly fitted...

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 18:23

It definitely feels better...

I was expecting a bit more, even bearing in mind an Activa will be a little harsher than the SX HDi I had.

I'm thinking though that once the air thats in the system is purged, a new Activa accumulator fitted and the faults cleared it will be better yet.

One thing it does seem to have affected is my radio reception - it's worse than ever

Will have to hunt for this amplifier unit

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 15 Feb 2010, 20:12

Interesting Toby. Is the hot melt glue gun any good for in there? What were symptoms and is that transistors you have wired in? I have missed what`s going on with this. Where and how much for bits?

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 15 Feb 2010, 20:15

Nice one Toby

Good bit of soldering there!

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 15 Feb 2010, 20:18

Good soldering Toby, considering you werent sure about dooing the soldering when I saw you at Jims!

Wel done!

Paul

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 20:23

I never used a glue gun. I've tried to hold them to the board with a dot of sealant. Don't think it's work massively well and I think a hot glue gun could well be a good idea. I don't think they are going to go anywhere though

What you see in the pictures is the protective resin, where the VN05N has blown, it's melted the resin into a blob.

Symptoms - being stuck in firm mode, this was confirmed with a Lexia. In the abscence of one, open a door and listen for the electrovalve energising with a click and then buzzing for a bit (30secs ish?) before they shut off with a click. Mine weren't buzzing. They only started clicking once the diode mod was done too (thanks Richard!)

Components are VN05N which I bought from RS for about 90p each. Hydractive cars need 2. Activas use 3. I bought 5 considering the price.

Thanks Kev and Paul, was concerned as I haven't done it for years but a great desoldering pump helped immensely.

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 15 Feb 2010, 23:22

What causes them things to burn out?

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 15 Feb 2010, 23:31

I'm not entirely sure. Most seem to go in a similar way though.

Think I might try to find a spare Activa ECU now and keep one in stock. Be handy even though I'm now confident at doing this job. So much so, I may get a hot glue gun and try to tidy it up a bit. For the time being though, it's working so I'll leave it.

Dommo · Post by **Dommo** » 16 Feb 2010, 00:10

Ah fair enough. That's a bit odd..

I assume the diode mod is done to this ECU? Where exactly is it situated on an s2 Activa?

Thanks.